Maria Leon is an easy-going, animal loving junior here at ISU. Maria spent two years in her hometown completing her associates and transferred to ISU last semester. She loves ISU and is taking advantage of all of the great opportunities coming her way. Last semester, Maria rushed ISU’s Alpha Omicron Pi chapter, or AOII. Being the first time this sorority is on the ISU campus, Maria is one of its founding women. In an effort to get more involved in her sorority Maria ran to be the chapter’s first secretary, and won! Get to know more about this amazing, ambitious Redbird:
Name: Maria Leon
Hometown: Elgin, IL
Major: Communication Science and Disorders
Age: 21
Favorite animal: Dog
Favorite show: Scrubs
Her Campus Illinois State: How do you like being in AOII?
Maria Leon: I really like it! The girls are great and it keeps me busy. Being a transfer I wanted to be able to get to know more people and leave my comfort zone. AOII was the perfect place for me to meet a lot of different women and get more involved on campus.
HC ISU: What made you choose ISU after community college?
ML: I came here and instantly felt like I was home. Everything is so close to campus which is so nice. I had visited other universities but never had that “at home” feeling until I came here.
HC ISU: Where is your favorite spot to hang on campus?
ML: When it’s warm out I love to sit out on the quad between classes on the grass and relax. Other then that I only really go to the library to study, the Bone for food, or Watterson to meet up with friends. Otherwise you can find me at my apartment re-watching my favorite shows on Netflix.
HC ISU: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
ML: Hopefully I will have my dream job and maybe married with one kid, but no matter what I will definitely own a million dogs. I can’t see my future not being full of dogs, I love them so much! I have a Shih Tzu named Toby back home in Elgin and I miss him every day.
HC ISU: If you could have one superpower what would it be? Why?
ML: I would want telekinesis, which is the ability to move things with your mind. I would want this because it just sounds so cool, and I’m lazy sometimes so this would make life easier.
HC ISU: Who is your favorite singer?
ML: I really like country music so I’d have to say Luke Bryan, but I also love Florida Georgia Line. They make super catchy songs that are especially perfect for hot summer days on the beach.
HC ISU: So I know you really like food, what would you say is the dish you love the most?
ML: My mom is a very good cook and makes some great meals, but when it comes to the one meal I love the most I have to go with the parmesan chicken plate at Olive Garden. It makes me happy.
HC ISU: So you’re the first secretary for AOII at ISU. How is that going?
ML: It’s going good! Sometimes it’s hard to keep up with but I always make the time. I take minutes for chapter, write thank you cards to organizations who help us out or send us gifts, etc. I used to be a secretary for a real-estate agency so it’s not too far off from that; working there really prepared me for the position.
HC ISU: What’s the one thing you want our readers to know about you?
ML: I really want to be a doctor which led me to changing my major to biology. It took me a while to come to this realization, but I now know that this is the right path for me. I’m excited to start this new chapter in my life.